Safety apparatus for skaters



(No Model.)

A. VAN VLEGK.

SAFETY APPARATUS FOR SKATERS. No. 321,867. Patented July 7, 1885.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OrEIcEt ALEXANDER VAN VLEOK, OF HART LOT, NEW YORK.

SAFETY APPARATUS FOR SKATERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 321,867, dated July '7, 1885.

Application filed March 9, 1885.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER VAN VLEcK, of Hart Lot, (Elbridge,) county of Onondaga, State of New York, have invented a new and useful Device for Guarding and Protecting Persons Learning to Skate, of which the following is a specification.

My improvement consists in a guarding frame suspended to the shoulders of the skater so as not to interfere with free action in skating, by which beginners can learn to skate without any danger of falling or injury from slipping or otherwise.

I attain these objects by the device shown in the accompanying drawing, in which the apparatus is shown in perspective.

The construction is as follows: A circular ring, a, is formed, preferably, with its front and rear sections, one or both, with a curvature upward from a horizontal line. This ring is carried near the fioor without touching. To this ring standards 1) project upward on each side,surmounted by a cross-piece, 0, into which is fitted an adjustable standard, d,bearing on its upper end a crutch-formed arm-rest, 6. These can be adjusted to any height to fit the wearer by raising or lowering the standard by any convenient device. A shoulder-strap, f, is affiXed to each end of the rest e. These straps pass over the shoulders of the wearer, by which (No model.)

the guard at is supported at the proper height. Gross-handles h may be added to the lower ends of standards d, so as to be grasped by the hands of the wearer, if desired, and be used to guide the guard-ring a. A waist strap, '5, is connected with this adjustable crutch, that passes around the body to secure it in place.

WVhen this device is attached to a learner on skates, it imparts confidence to the wearer and securely guards against a fall or injury to the wearer, thus giving increased confidence to the learner.

Having thus described my new device, I claim 1. The guard-ring a, in combination with the standards I) and adjustable crutch 6, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. The adjustable crutch e, in combination with the standards b and ring a, as specified.

3. In combination with the crutch e, the shoulder-straps f, for supporting the apparatus from the shoulders, as specified.

l. The combination of the shoulder-supports, and body-band i, and guard-ring a, and standards I), as specified.

ALEXANDER VAN VLEOK.

Witnesses:

J. I. MUNEo, EDWIN S. COLMAN. 

